Saturday, December 19, 2009

Today was a much better sail than the clouds and heavy surf off the North Sound presaged. After clearing the North Sound channel I had both sails up and averaged over 7 knots on a single heading. Occasionally really big Atlantic swells would come by from the north, but they were spaced so far apart as to almost not be noticeable. Only when I looked at land and it suddenly disappeared as Zanshin went into the trough did the size of the waves become apparent.

I stopped at Sandy Cay to take a break but just when I was about to drop the anchor did it become clear to me why only one other boat was there - the heavy swell made staying there uncomfortable and landing a dinghy ashore impossible. So I raised the mainsail and slowly headed to Great Harbor on Jost van Dyke.

They finally installed some mooring balls, but they were almost all taken and I prefer to anchor in any case and spend the $25 mooring ball fee ashore at the bar or restaurant. I put out 100 feet and then settled back to read and await the exciting times after 4pm when the charter boats all arrive and anchoring antics begin. I am sure that more than one marriage has come apart while couples try to anchor here - it would be funny if the people wouldn't get so angry while doing it. This time a German boat anchored next to me, less then 50 feet away but I'll put out fenders tonight if it looks like a wind change will bring us too close. Other boats had 2-5 attempts but they are all now safely attached to the sea bottom.

I just came back from a great pizza at Corsair's with Vinnie in residence and even the blocked up nose and headache from my cold don't seem so bad anymore. All I need to do is plug in the coffee machine for a post-prandial espresso and I'll be absolutely content.